Body structure for traveling bags, cases, and the like



J. HEINEL.

BODY STRUCTURE FOR TRAVELING BAGS, CASES, AND THE LIKE,

* Patented July 13, 1920.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.27|1919.

T. n /1 i .J

UNITED STATES JOHN I-IEINEL, OF ROGKFOBD, ILLINOIS.

BODY STRUCTURE ron TRAVELING BAGS, cases, Annrnn ma intense.

Specification of Letters Patent, fP e e d J ly 13, 1920,

Application filed January 27, 1819. Serial No. 273.317.

To aZZw/rom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN HEINEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockford, in the county of lVinnebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Body Structures for Traveling Bags, Cases, and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to baggage, and has more particular refercnce'to traveling bags and cases and similar articles, especially with regard to the materials involved in the manufacture of thebody struc ture of such articles.

It is well known that traveling bags and cases, due to the severe usage to which they are ordinarily subjected, are very quickly and easily damaged. This is particularly so when such articles are made. of imitation leather and other inexpensive materials for the purpose of lightness in weight and for other well known reasons, and even those of a more expensive construction are comparatively short-lived when used continuously in traveling.

It is the purpose of my present invention to obviate many of the objections following from the present method of manufacturing traveling bags and cases, and to provide a generally improved and novel body structure for articles of this character, possessing exceptional qualities which will be presently mentioned.

in furtherance of this general object, my invention contemplates the provision of a body structure for traveling bags and cases and other articles of the character in mind, consisting of a numberof plies of different materials glued or otherwise cemented or united together and constituting in effect, a unitary body structure characterized by its lightness, durability, flexibility, etc., which will be apparent from the following disclosure.

My invention consists, generally stated, in the provision of a body structure for the purpose described comprising a facing of suitable material, such for example as genuine or imitation leather, canvas or other fabric, etc.; a reinforcing body united with the inner side of the facing material and consisting of strands or strips of fibrous growth, such as cane, reed, willow or the like, arranged close together and glued or otherwise united to the facing; and an inner fabric glued or suitably united with the inside of and exceptional qualities of durability and flexibility. The body structure is also cemparatively light of weight, due to the fibrous reinforcing material and to the fact that the facing material may be of considerably lighter weight than ordinarily used. Also the use of the cane or fibrous growth body permits elimination of certain metal frame work ordinarily used. Thus with a bodv structure of the character in mind, an en ceptionally strong and durable case may be provided lighter in weight and at less cost than is possibleto obtain under the present methods of manufacture in which a case in order to possess the desired qualities of strength and durability must be made of heavy leather and a strong metal frame work, which results in an expensive article.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawing, the figure is a perspective view of a suitcase, partially broken away to show the body structure and to illustrate one or receptacle to which the body structure is adapted. In the present instance, a suitcase will exemplify the use of my improvements, and it will be noted from the drawing that the suitcase shown is of a conventional type comprising a main body designated generally by character 2, a cover 3 suitably hinged to the body, suitable fastenings for the cover, a handle, and straps, all of which are details having no particular bearing on the invention.

My improvements relate to the formation of and materials used in the body structure, and I prefer that this body shall be of three plies, viz: a facing 4:, a reinforcing body 5 and an inner facing or lining 6. The facing 4 may be of any suitable material deimitation leather, or of fabric'oirha mate'- rial well known in this art. It 1S practical also to make thei facing lighter 111 weight when used in con ection with my improvements5 than when sl chfacing constitutes the main body or covering of azcase as in the ordinary methods of manufacturing these? articles. The reinforcing body 5 is ofnarrow strip material of fibrous growth, preferably of cane,although reed and willow also serve the purpose very well. The strips or strands areglue'd or otherwise united to'the backof the facing material 4 in close relat'ion as illustrated in the drawing. This reinforced" body is preferably lined with a suitablefabric (i of muslin or other mate rial which may be glued to the cane. A composite body is thusprovided which is fiexibleand possessed of unusual strength sary, but in the use of my improvements the reinforcing structure holds the shape and a metal frame 1s not necessary,-except perhaps. at the inside of the cover member 3, where a light 'metal frame or valance might be used. In the manufacture of suitcases, I prefer to arrange the material so that the strips on the long sides of the case extend lengthwise, as shoivnyand a single piece of material is used to form the top 7 side 8' and bottom of the body 2; Theends "Jof thisbodyfl are arrangedso that the ,fibrous strips extend vertically and the ad- JOlfilng edges of the parts 7, S and 9 may be suitably overlappedand sewed or other.- w se secured together. The cover -3 is formed substantially the same as the body e 2. buitable fasten ngs, handles, corner caps or guards hinges, etc, andalso lining inside ofthe three-ply body structure may be provided as these elements have no particular be'a'ring'on the present inventiong From the fore oing, it will beunderstood that my improved body structure is adapted for embodiment in traveling bags, cases and receptacles of various descriptions and sizes and also that the materialsiised in this composite body structure might be varied to suit the particular. size, shape and character of the article being manufactured. ience it should be understood that various changes might be made in the construction,-arrangement and selection of materials without departing from thespirit and scope of the in vention as expressed in the appended claim.

I claim; I

A. traveling case formedof a three-ply body comprising a facing material, a lining and an interposed reinforcing'body'of narrow'fibrous or cane strips laidside by side, said plies beinguii'ited by an adhesive so as to constitute a composite body, thecase having sides and ends formed of said composite body, the ends beingf arrangedwith the strips running verticallyand the side portions with the strips running horizontally, the end edges of said side portions be ing turned inwardlyover and crosswise of the end sections forming angular corners integral with the sides, and stitching uniting the turned over edges and said end sections.

7 JOHN unmet. 

